Kane leads charge as Blackhawks roll over Stars

DALLAS (Ticker) -- Apparently, several changes did not help the
Dallas Stars.

Patrick Kane scored twice and rookie Kris Versteeg added a goal
and two assists as the Chicago Blackhawks cruised to a 6-3
victory Thursday over the Stars, who had made multiple personnel
moves over the previous few days in an effort to change their
fortunes.

"We're really coming on all cylinders," Versteeg said. "The
guys are really buying into the systems and guys are working
hard and getting into the plays. ... The guys are playing great
road games and we've just got to keep it rolling."

Defenseman Brian Campbell and Ben Eager each netted a goal and
set up another, Martin Havlat also scored and Troy Brouwer
notched a pair of assists for the Blackhawks, who recorded just
their second victory in 13 visits to Dallas.

"It was a big win," Havlat said. "The team was working hard and
happy to get the second win in two games on the road. It was
great to win here. The Blackhawks, in their last 11 or 12 games
here, they only won once. It's been a big win to get it here."

Nikolai Khabibulin turned aside 31 shots for Chicago, which won
its second consecutive game after losing three straight.

"He's been real good," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.
"Certainly, he looked big and comfortable in the net. He's been
rock solid for us all year."

Mike Modano registered a goal and an assist while captain
Brenden Morrow and James Neal also scored for the Stars, who
have dropped six of their last eight.

"We all have to be at the top of our game every night.
Otherwise, you get what happened tonight," Dallas coach Dave
Tippett said. "We have shown glimpses, but we just can't
sustain it for one reason or another. We start chasing games
and don't push all the way through."

Dallas failed to win consecutive games for the first time this
season and continued to struggle after a trip to the Western
Conference finals last spring prompted predictions of another
deep playoff run this season.

But after trading veteran Philippe Boucher to the Pittsburgh
Penguins for fellow defenseman Darryl Sydor on Sunday and losing
rookie forward B.J. Crombeen to the St. Louis Blues via waivers,
the Stars still gave up at least four goals for the fifth time
in seven home games.

"It has been a tough climb," Stars center Brad Richards said.
"You get one thing working and you want to get them all working.
We're frustrated right now with what's going on. We don't like
what's going on."

With Dallas ahead, 1-0, Kane scored with 37 seconds left in the
first period and Eager tallied 6:44 into the second to put
Chicago ahead. But Modano scored with the man advantage 76
seconds later to even the game at 2-2.

Campbell restored the Blackhawks' lead 78 seconds afterward,
firing a long slap shot past screened goaltender Marty Turco
during a power play for his fourth goal of the season.

Neal, who was recalled from the minors on Tuesday, notched his
third goal of the season with 3:54 left in the second. After
Khabibulin stopped initial attempts by Richards and Sean Avery,
Neal grabbed the second rebound and popped it over the Russian
netminder.

But Chicago jumped back in front for good with 30 seconds to go
in the session, as Versteeg capped the five-goal period with his
seventh tally of the season.

"I wasn't trying to be fancy or anything like that," Versteeg
said. "I kind of saw a lane to the net, and I was just trying
to take the puck hard to the net and make a play with it."

Havlat has been impressed with Versteeg's contributions thus
far.

"He's having a great first year," Havlat said. "He's showing
everybody that he's very skilled, and hopefully he's going to
keep going. He's playing great. It's nice to watch him, and
it's fun to play with him, too."

Havlat netted his sixth goal at 6:40 of the third, beating Turco
with a sharp wrist shot from the right faceoff circle, and Kane
added an empty-netter with 16 seconds remaining to secure the
victory.